Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính recently held important talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on April 9, 2025, paving the way for new strategic collaborations. The discussions focused on elevating the Vietnam-Spain Strategic Partnership to a new level.
Enhancing the Vietnam-Spain Strategic Partnership
The meeting between the two Prime Ministers thoroughly discussed avenues for cooperation across various sectors, aiming to deepen and enhance the strategic partnership.
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in political and diplomatic, as well as economic and trade spheres. Increased exchanges at all levels, particularly high-level delegations, will be promoted, alongside the effective implementation of existing bilateral mechanisms and exploration of new specialized cooperation mechanisms. The foreign ministries of both countries will play a crucial role in coordinating and fostering the relationship, with the objective of upgrading it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming period.
Economic and Trade Cooperation: Aiming for over USD 8 Billion
The economic, trade, and investment sectors were identified as crucial pillars of this strategic partnership. The Prime Ministers agreed to effectively implement the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the recently signed bilateral financial cooperation memorandum. Holding the first meeting of the joint Economic, Trade, and Investment Committee in 2025 is a significant step toward maximizing cooperation potential, aiming for bilateral trade exceeding USD 8 billion in the near future.
The Spanish Prime Minister highly valued the potential of cooperation with the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in effect, and committed to assisting other EU countries in early ratification. Both sides emphasized the need to encourage the European Commission (EC) to remove the “IUU” yellow card for Vietnamese seafood. Prime Minister Sánchez requested Vietnam to reduce non-tariff administrative procedures, opening up the Spanish agricultural and poultry markets to boost balanced trade cooperation.
Vietnam: Ensuring a Safe and Transparent Investment Environment
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính emphasized Vietnam’s commitment to creating a safe, transparent, and stable investment environment to attract foreign investment. Vietnam is focusing on diversifying markets, products, and supply chains. The Prime Minister also urged businesses to increase productivity and product quality through investment in innovation, technology application, and intellectual property protection to enhance competitiveness.
Multilateral Cooperation and Dispute Resolution
The leaders highlighted the importance of multilateral unity and cooperation, promoting multilateralism and the rule of law in resolving global challenges. They agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support in multilateral forums, international organizations, particularly at the United Nations and within the ASEAN-EU framework. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính hoped Spain would promote cooperation between Vietnam and the EU and Latin American countries.
Regarding the South China Sea, both sides acknowledged its importance in international maritime traffic and supported resolving disputes through peaceful means based on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
Encouraging Further Cooperation
The talks also covered other areas of cooperation, such as training and capacity building for law enforcement officers; defense industry; counter-terrorism, transnational crime; UN peacekeeping; post-war reconstruction in Vietnam; establishing direct air routes; and adoption cooperation.
The meeting between the two Prime Ministers is a positive signal, opening up new prospects for the Vietnam-Spain Strategic Partnership and contributing to regional economic development and political stability.
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